Golf tee gadget and configuration

ABSTRACT

A golf tee gadget and configuration includes a stem with one end connected to a surface on which a golf ball can be held, and a flat plate connected to the other end of the stem, with the stem being connected to the flat plate at an angle. The flat plate includes one golf ball at each end. When the stem is in a flattened position, the two golf balls and the stem surface are positioned along the same horizontal line that connects the golf ball centers and the center of the stem surface. The flat plate is pinned to the ground via a pin. The pin is located at an end of the plate that is farther from the stem and is inserted from the top of the golf ball and extends through the middle of the golf ball. The pin is made of a non-breakable flexible material. The flat plate length is shorter than the length of the stem.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A tee is a stand that is typically used to support a stationary ball. In golf, a tee is normally used for the first stroke of each hole. The area from which this first stroke is hit is known as the teeing ground. Normally, teeing the ball is allowed only on the first shot of a hole, called the tee shot, and is illegal for any other shot; however, local or seasonal rules may allow or require teeing for other shots as well, e.g., under “winter rules” to protect the turf when it is unusually vulnerable. Teeing gives a considerable advantage for drive shots, so it is normally done whenever allowed. However, a player may elect to play his/her tee shot without a tee. This typically gives the shot a lower trajectory¹.

A conventional golf tee includes a conical spike that is pinned into the ground and a slightly concaved head portion on which golf ball is placed. The standard golf tee pin is made of wood or hard plastic.

A drawback of the conventional golf tees is the pollution caused by them as a typical hit results in a broken Tee. As a result, conventional golf courses are usually littered with broken tees around the teeing grounds.

Another problem with the conventional golf tee gadgets is that they interfere with the swing path of the golf club, thus slowing down the golf club prior to striking the golf ball. Such intrusion prevents the golf club from reaching the golf ball at an unhindered velocity, or a velocity free from interference by a traditional golf tee or other golf ball gadgets that suspend the ball.

Yet another problem with the conventional golf tee gadgets is caused by an alignment failure. The alignment failure has various aspects. For e.g., hitting the pin with the club, in addition to the slowing of the golf club speed, can also cause a slight change in the angle at which the club head impacts the ball, displacing the golf club prior to striking the golf ball, due to the tee striking either ends of the golf club head striking surface. Twisting occurs when the ¹http.//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tee golf club head is not perfectly aligned with the golf ball. The alignment failure is significant because even a slight twist of the club due to the influence of the golf tee would cause significant alteration in the intended landing location of the ball.

Conventional golf tees do not provide satisfactory suspension mechanism for the golf ball that is substantially unhindered by physical contact with a golf tee, prior to impact by a golf club. Under the conventional golf tee gadgets and configurations, the leveling of a golf ball on a golf tee, and insuring the golfer only strikes the golf ball and not the tee, is not provided.

Several adverse consequences can result from the interaction of a conventional golf tee and golf club. For example, in the case of a conventional golf tee, which is a stick, the golf club head's forward motion may cause the above ground portion of the golf tee to move forward, which, in turn, causes the below ground portion of the tee to move in a direction opposite of the above ground portion. This, in turn, causes “pushes back” by the dirt on the below ground portion of the tee. This force is then transmitted through the stem of the tee and may affect golfer's swing, alter the swing path, reduce club head speed, or produce other undesirable effects.

An additional issue facing golfers is the ability to reliably set the height of the golf ball that is being hit. Under the conventional golf tee arrangements, golfer is required to estimate the portion of the tee's stem to place into the ground to achieve the golfer's desired ball height. However, due to the inherent error in such an arrangement, golfer may frequently hit the golf ball from varying heights on different strokes during a golf round, which are at variance from each other. The inability to reliably set the golf ball at a certain height can itself result in inconsistent play and shots.

Another problem with conventional golf tees is that they fail to provide player with an proper alignment to allow golfer to optimally strike the golf ball with the golf club swing. This is because conventional golf tees either form a singular point when viewed from the top or else form paths that are not related to the path of the intended trajectory of the ball. As a result, golfer has no consistent linear frame of reference by which to aim his or her stroke. This, in turn, can lead to a greater percentage of errant golf shots.

There is a need for a golf tee gadget that addresses the above noted deficiencies of the conventional golf tee gadgets and configurations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a golf tee gadget and configuration for alleviating certain undesirable forces relating to use of conventional golf tees and aiding in the improvement of golfer's swing alignment. The goal of the inventive golf tee gadget and configuration is to improve the golfer's strike accuracy and to reduce littering on the golf course resulting from broken tees.

The standard golf tee is a pin, made of wood or hard plastic, that is inserted into the ground and includes a flat top area for holding the golf ball. Usually each hit of the golf ball by the golf club will break the tee and litters the gold course with broken Tees. An aspect of the inventive golf tee gadget and configuration is a golf tee that does not stand upright but a tee that includes a long pin that has a short flat part that lies on the ground and a longer side that, with the flat part placed on the golf ground, extends at an angle from the flat part away upward from the ground. According to one embodiment, the pin lays on its side at an inclined angle and is preferably made of flexible plastic that does not break with the hit. Another advantage of the inventive golf tee gadget and configuration is that it allows the golfer to align his body using the straight line through the ball the player is going to hit with the two extra golf balls that are helping keep the Tee in place.

According to an embodiment of the inventive golf tee gadget and configuration, the golf ball is situated at an elevated position compared to the stem on which it is placed, and the ground, and the stem rises from the ground level at an angle below the surface on which the golf ball is placed on the stem. As a result, during the swing the club head does not come to direct contact with stem of the tee. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the pin that is inserted in the grounded to help hold the tee in place is not directly connected to the stem. This feature makes it easier for the stem of the tee to swivel as a result of a hit. In another embodiment, the inventive golf tee gadget and configuration includes two golf balls, one at each end of the flat plate, which design forces the player's body to align more correctly behind the ball and therefore results in more accurate swings and shots.

According to one embodiment, the inventive golf tee gadget is laid on the golf course or practice ground in front of the golfer with one side of the golf tee containing the two ball design placed directly in front of the golfers right hand and the stem on which the ball is situated is in front of the golfers lest hand. This arrangement will help player to align and direct his swings and shots.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram depicting the inventive golf tee gadget and configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention from a top view looking directly down.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram depicting the inventive golf tee gadget and configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

A golf tee gadget and configuration includes a stem with one end connected to a surface on which a golf ball can be held, and a flat plate connected to the other end of the stem, with the stem being connected to the flat plate at an angle. The flat plate includes one golf ball at each end. Viewed from a direct top position, the two golf balls and the stem surface are positioned along the same horizontal line that connects the golf ball centers and the center of the stem surface. The flat plate is pinned to the ground via a pin. The pin is located at an end of the plate that is farther from the stem and is inserted from the top of the golf ball and extends through the middle of the golf ball. The pin is made of a non-breakable flexible material. The flat plate length is shorter than the length of the stem.

Details of the present invention relating to various exemplary embodiments will now be described by reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the inventive golf tee gadget and configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. Stem 100 is an extension, which is connected to stem surface 101 capable of holding a golf ball, at one end, and is attached to flat plate 102 at the other end. Flat plate 102 has two golf balls 103 and 104 that are placed on its top, with one golf ball at each end of the flat plate 102. According to one embodiment, flat plate 102 is placed on a golf course ground or on a golf practice area. Preferably, the stem surface 101 is round with a diameter of 3/16 of an inch. Preferably, the golf balls 103, 104 on the flat plate 102 are each one inch in diameter. Preferably, the stem 100 has a length of 4 inches.

According to one embodiment, the center of the stem surface 101, golf ball 103 and golf ball 104 are along the stem line 100 in a flattened (top down perspective) position. Flat plate 102 is pinned to the ground via pin 105. Pin 105 passes through the center of golf ball 104 and helps secure flat plate 102 to the ground on the end that is farthest from the stem 100. Pin 105 can be made of any material such as wood or plastic. Preferably, stem 100 is made of flexible material that does not easily break on impact from a golf club (not shown).

According to an embodiment of the inventive golf tee gadget and configuration, golf ball to be hit (not shown) is situated on stem surface 101 and is positioned at an elevated position with respect to the ground. As a result, when golf ball (not shown) is hit with a golf club (not shown) the club head does not come into direct contact with the pin 105. Furthermore, since the stem 100 is at an angle and a lower position with respect to the stem plate 101, a golf club hit to golf ball would not result in a hard contact between the stem 101 and or contact stem of the golf tee.

According to an embodiment of the inventive golf tee gadget and configuration, pin 105 that is inserted in the grounded is not directly connected to the stem 100 but is situated at the farthest end of the flat plate 102 from the stem 100. This arrangement makes it easier for the stem 100 to swivel upon impact of golf club (not shown) with the ball (not shown) located on the stem surface 101. Accordingly, there is less interference from the pin 105 with the interaction of the golf club (not shown) and target golf ball (not shown) that is the case in conventional golf tee gadget arrangements, where the pin does not have as much freedom of movement.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, flat plate 102 of the inventive golf tee gadget and configuration is laid on the ground with the player (not shown) facing the flat plate 102. Preferably, the player facing the flat plate 102 directly stands in front of the flat plate 102 with flat plate 102 placed directly in front of the player's right hand and the stem plate 101 is in front of the golfer's left hand (not shown.) Setting the golf Tee in this manner forces the golfer's body into alignment by having player to stand parallel to the flight of the ball and results in a more straight path for the golf ball (not shown.)

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the inventive golf tee gadget and configuration. Flat plate 202 includes two golf balls 203, 204 situated at each end of the plate 202. Stem 200 is connected at one end to the flat plate 202 at an angle, and at another end to stem plate 201 on which the golf ball to be hit (not shown) would be placed. Preferably, flat plate 202 length is shorter than the length of the stem 200. 

1. A golf tee gadget and configuration comprising: A stem with one end connected to a surface on which a golf ball can be held; A flat plate connected to the other end of the stem; Wherein the stem is connected to the flat plate at an angle; and wherein the flat plate includes one golf ball image or indicia at each end of said flat plate.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The golf tee gadget of claim 1, wherein, when the stem is in a flattened position, the two golf balls and the stem surface are positioned along the same horizontal line that connects the golf ball centers and the center of the stem surface.
 4. The golf tee gadget of claim 3, wherein the flat plate is pinned to the ground via a pin.
 5. The Golf tee gadget of claim 4, wherein the pin is located at an end of the plate that is farther from the stem.
 6. The Golf tee gadget of claim 5, wherein the pin is inserted from the top of the golf ball image or indicia and extends through the middle of the golf ball image or indicia.
 7. The Golf tee gadget of claim 6, wherein the golf ball images or indicia have a diameter of one inch.
 8. The Golf tee gadget of claim 7, wherein the pin is made of a non-breakable flexible material.
 9. The Golf tee gadget of claim 8, wherein the flat plate length is shorter than the length of the stem.
 10. A golf tee gadget and configuration comprising: A stem with one end connected to a surface on which a golf ball to be struck can be held; A flat plate connected to the other end of the stem; Wherein the stem is connected to the flat plate at an angle; and wherein the flat plate includes one golf ball image or indicia at each end in horizontal alignment with the stem such that when the stem is in a flattened position, the two golf ball images or indicia and the stem surface are positioned along the same horizontal line that connects the golf ball images or indicia centers and a center of the stem surface which results in that alignment of the golf ball to be struck with the golf ball images or indicia to provide three linear point of reference for alignment purposes.
 11. The golf tee gadget of claim 10, wherein the flat plate is pinned to the ground via a pin.
 12. The Golf tee gadget of claim 11, wherein the pin is located at an end of the plate that is farther from the stem.
 13. The Golf tee gadget of claim 12, wherein the pin is inserted from the top of the golf ball image or indicia and extends through the middle of the golf ball.
 14. The Golf tee gadget of claim 11, wherein the golf ball images or indicia have a diameter of one inch.
 15. The Golf tee gadget of claim 11, wherein the golf ball images or indicia consists of a flat image of a golf ball on the flat plate.
 16. The Golf tee gadget of claim 11, wherein the golf ball images or indicia consists of a indicia of a golf ball comprising a partially raised hemisphere representation of a golf ball.
 17. The Golf tee gadget of claim 11, wherein the flat plate length is shorter than the length of the stem. 